Promotional services

Tender description

1.1 Background Irish Aid manages the Irish Government's programme of assistance to developing countries. The Irish Aid programme is focused on reducing poverty, inequality and exclusion in developing countries. Its geographic focus is sub-Saharan Africa. 1.2 The Simon Cumbers Media Challenge Fund promotes more and better quality coverage of development issues in the Irish media through the management and administration of a grants scheme to promote a greater understanding of development issues and the work of Irish Aid. It was established by Irish Aid in 2005 in memory of the late Irish journalist and cameraman, Simon Cumbers. 1.3 The Fund is intended to facilitate and encourage increased coverage of global development issues and the work of Irish Aid via either print, broadcast or news media. In 2014, for example, the Fund supported 37 pieces of journalism on overseas development. 1.4 The themes cover global development issues and reflect Irish Aid priorities and the partner countries in which we work. Irish Aid's overarching goal is the eradication of hunger and poverty. The successful applicant will work with The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade on an ongoing basis to identify priority issues for coverage. 1.5 Examples of other relevant themes are: migration, education, health, gender, sustainable development, innovation, business, and entrepreneurship, conflict as a factor in development, international trade, agriculture and rural development, democracy, HIV and AIDS and the role of aid and others. Decisions on awards are made in 2 annual grants rounds in June and December of each year. There is a dedicated Student Scheme which funds students in order to foster an awareness of development issues in the next generation of media professional.